Abstract [en]

Aims and objectives To describe how patients with major depression in psychiatric outpatient care use the portfolio method and whether the method helps the patients to understand their depression. Background Major depressive disorder is an increasing problem in society. Learning about one’s depression has been demonstrated to be important for recovery. If the goal is better understanding and management of depression, learning must proceed on the patient’s own terms, based on the patient’s previous understanding of their depression. Learning must be aligned with patient needs if it is to result in meaningful and useful understanding. Design Each patient’s portfolio consisted of a binder. Inside the binder, there was a register with predetermined flaps and questions. The patients were asked to work with the questions in the sections that built the content in the portfolio. Methods Individual interviews with patients (n = 5) suffering from major depression according to Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) (American Psychiatric Association 1994) were repeatedly conducted between April 2008 and August 2009 in two psychiatric outpatient clinics in western Sweden. Data were analysed using latent content analysis. Results The results showed that the portfolio was used by patients as a management strategy for processing and analysis of their situation and that a portfolio’s structure affects its usability. The patients use the portfolio for reflection on and confirmation of their progress, to create structure in their situation, as a management strategy for remembering situations and providing reminders of upcoming activities. Conclusions Using a clearly structured care portfolio can enable participation and patient learning and help patients understand their depression. Relevance to clinical practice The portfolio method could provide a tool in psychiatric nursing that may facilitate patient understanding and increase self-efficacy.